Temple Items

#1707  Five Japanese temple candles (rosoku), two large red ones, 10"h. And three white ones, one large,10"h; and two medium, 8"h, and 7"h.

           Candle making is a much respected traditional craft in Japan. The handmade processes use all plant based materials, rather than animal fat, beeswax, or paraffin. The natural plant ingredients produce less soot, and a smell better.

          Traditional rosoku also use a large, thick hollow wick, made of bulrush, wrapped with washi paper, which produces a large flame that flickers softly, with minimal dripping.

           Rosoku wax (mokuro) is made from the fruit of the hase tree, which belongs to the sumac family. Small amounts of other natural ingridients, such as lacquer sap, may also be used.

           Ikari shaped rosoku, like these, very wide at the top, and a little wide at the bottom are considered temple candles. Thinner, straight shaped rosoku are used for the tea ceremony, and more general use. All are also used as offerings, for gifts, and for decorative purposes.

             This set of rosoku are old and have been used for display. They have a number of small nicks, small scratches, and smudges (see photos). Note the soft beige coloring of the mokuro material (the white candles have a white finish coat). They are beautiful, handmade artistic pieces.

             The large rosoku are about 3"diam at the top, and 2"diam at the bottom. The small ones are 1.5" and 1.75" at top, and 1"diam at bottom.  C.1960 . . . $175/set